Apparatus for casting metals



(No Model.) 7

- D. C. STOVER.

APPARATUS'FOR CASTING METALS.

No. 379,137. Patented Mar. 6, 1888.

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1 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL C. STOVER, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO THE WASHBURN 8t MOEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

' APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,137, dated March 6, 1888.

Application filed June 9, 1887.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL G. STovER, a resident of Freeport,in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Metals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it per- .w tains to make and use the same.

' My invention involvesthe application of a cooling-liquid directly to the molten metal, and is fully set forth in this specificetion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in plan a device for applying a cooling-liquid in producing continuous rods from molten metal. Fig. 2shows the same tpparatus, seen partly in elevation, partly in traction, looking in the direction of the arrow of Fig. l. Fig. 3 illustrates a slight modification whereby any desired degree of pressure may be applied to the metal during the pro-, cess of solidification.

It might be supposed that molten metal, like metal at a lower heat, when broughtinto contact with any liquid would cause the rapid evolution of vapor, and that the form of the metal would consequently be irregular and un 0 certain. Actual experiment, nevertheless,

shows that molten iron or steel when poured into a mold submerged in certain liquids takes the form of the mold, displacing the liquid without such evolution of vapor as to produce commotion therein. It is further found that the nature and temperature of the liquid employed exercise an important influence upon the character of the product; but excellent results have been obtained by using as the cool- 4c ing-liquid water directfrom city water-mains without additions or change of temperature.

In the drawings, A is a horizontal wheel mounted upon a stationary vertical shaft and provided withan annular groove, C, in the upper surface of its rim D. Upon the lower end of its elongated hub E is mounted a mitergear, F, which meshes with a corresponding gear, G, upon a driving-shaft, H. Flanges I I extend upward from the inner and outer 5o edges, respectively, of the rim D and form Serial No. 240,681. (No model.)

therewith a complete annular trough. Above the'plane of the wheel,and in any cd'nvenient location with reference theret0,is a receptacle,

K, for the molten metal, which may be kept at any desired temperature by means of gasburners M. A spout, L, closed at will by the usual plug of refractory material, serves to conduct the metal to the groove in the bottom of the trough C. The metal enters this trough simultaneously with a cold liquid discharged through the pipe N continuously while the apparatus is in operation. Other pipes, N, as numerous as may be desired, also pour liquid into the trough at various points to insure a constant and rapid change of the liquid in the trough itself.

Now, if the wheel be rotated from right to left upon the shaft B at a moderate rate of speed, and if metal be discharged in a stream of suitable size through the spout L, it is plain that the groove as it passes beneath the spout will be partially filled With metal. It is also evident that the metal, passing through a constantly-changing cold liquid, will, if the diameter and speed of the wheel are suited to the 7 character of the metal, become solidified before again reaching theline of the spout. Being a solid, it may be lifted from the liquid while still at a temperature suitable for further changes by rolling or otherwise. The shaft B, upon which the wheel rotates, extends above the plane of the wheel, and upon it is mounted an adjustable arm, 0, whose outer end bears a curvedhorizontal plate, U, from one of the ends of which projects a downwardly-inclined finger, P, adapted to slide beneath the partially-cooled iron in the groove and raise it to the surface of the plate. The inner end of the arm is attached to a gear, Q, loosely mounted on the stationary shaft B, and with the gear 0 meshes a smaller gear, Q, which is rotated by a hand-Wheel, R, mounted on the gear-shaft S. When the gear Q is rotated, the arm 0 is carried about the shaft B, and the finger P is thus made to lift the metal from the groove at any 5 desired point, and by this means the operator can within certain limits control the time that the metal is exposed to the action of the liquid without interfering with the motion of the wheel. Small guide-rollers V are mounted 10c upon the plate U to prevent displacement of the rod after it has been raised from the liquid, and arms Y, projecting horizontally from the outer edge of the plate, may increase the width thereof to any desired extent. A

From the plate U the rod, still at a high heat, may pass directly to ordinary rollers, T, and be thereafter treated in the same manner as rods reheated for the especial purpose of forming smaller rods or wire.

The groove in the rim of the wheel is a trifle narrower at the bottom, to facilitate the removal of the metal. A wheel, \V, rests in this groove, and, pressing upon the partially-cooled metal that passes beneath it, gives ita uniform thickness and removes any inequalities that might otherwise appear in the red. It is supported by an arm, X, rigidly but adjustably secured upon the shaftB byaset screw. Conepulleys Z, placed upon the shaft H and upon the shaft H, which drives it, Fig. 2, by means of a belt passing over these pulleys, enable the operator to control the speed of rotation of the wheel.

In apparatus of the class shown itis thought advisable to have the molten metal and quite a large body of liquid enter the trough and mold at the same time, and the spout L is therefore shown as entering the large pipe N a little above the wheel; butthis is notin all cases essential.

\Vhen it is desired to subject the cooling metal to pressure, it may be done by inclosing and rotating the wheel in a closed box, I, Fig.

3, filled with the cooling-liquid, metal being admitted through the spout L and liquid through the pipe N, as before; but in this case the liquid, instead of leaving the wheel by direct overflow, is discharged through an overfiow pipe, 2. The pipe 2 is carried upward to a height sufficient to give a head that will produce the required pressure. and the pipe N is carried to a still greater height. the excess of height depending on the rapidity of flow desired. Metal is forced into the box against the pressure thus caused by its own weight if the pipe L be of suitable vertical height. The number of pipes 2 and N may be increased in definitely, and it is not necessary that the escape of cooling-liquid about the various shafts t and rods that pass through its walls'shonld be entirely prevented, but a fibrous non-combustible packing about the aperture from which the partially-cooled metal issues is useful in p reventinga forcible jet of liquid at that point.

In cases where the mold is stationary there is no necessity for openings other than those for the pipes.

i l l l The method set forth is simply a convenient means for applying pressure, and other means may serve equally well. The liquid serves to transmit pressure, however applied, to every part of the surface reached thereby, whether it be the surface of the casting or of its enveloping mold.

The general method disclosed in this application is made the subject of another application for patent filed by me January 23, 1888, and numbered 26t,603, and I therefore claim herein only apparatus for applying said gen eral method.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination of a mold for casting metal, meansfor introducing molten metal into said mold, and means for keeping a rapidlychanging body of cooling liquid in direct contact with said metal while it is solidifying.

2. The combination of a mold for casting metal, means for introducing molten metal into said mold, means for keeping a rapidlychang ing body of cooling-liquid in direct contact with said metal or parts thereof while in said mold, and means whereby any desired pressure may be exerted upon said changing body of liquid during the time it is in contact with Said metal.

3. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, the combination of a suitable mold, a liquid covering and filling said mold, means for delivering molten metal to every part of said mold, and means whereby the metal may be removed from the mold when partially cooled.

4. The combination of a traveling mold submergcd in a cooling-liquid, means for discharging molten metal into said mold while submerged, and means whereby said metal may be removed from said mold and liquid when solidified and cooled to any desired degree.

5. The combination ofareceptacle for molten metal, a suitable traveling mold submerged in a cooling-liquid and adapted to receive the metal discharged from said receptacle, means for removing the solidified metal from said mold while still at a high heat, and rolls adapted to form said heated metal into rods or wires of any desired form and size,whereby metal entering the apparatus in the molten state may be continuously delivered in the form of a rod or wire.

In testimony whereofI have signed this specifieation in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL C. STOVER.

Witn esses:

O. W. GRAHAM, J. A. GRAIN.

, It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 379,137, granted March 6, 1888, upon the application of Daniel C. Stover, of Freeport, Illinois, for an improvement in Apparatus for Casting Metals, was erroneously issued to the Washburn & Moen Manu= t'acturing Company, of Worcester, Massachusetts, as owners of said invention; whereas the patent should have been granted to Daniel 0. Stoner, the inventor, and the Washbnrn & Moen Manufacturing Oompana, of Worcester, Massachusetts, jointly, the said Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company being assignees of onehalf interest "only, as shown by the assignments of record in the Patent Ofice; that the proper cor- I rection has been made in the files and records pertaining to the case in the Patent Qffice, and should be read in the Letters Patent that the same may conform thereto.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 20th day of March, A. D. 1888.

[SEAL] D. L. HAWKINS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

rLUlll. HUI JlthlJ/a I (lountersigned BENTON J. HALL,

Commissioner of Patents. 

